Has Work Grown More Transactional? It’s Complicated.
What is commonly referred to as “loyalty” between employers and employees has eroded for decades. Does the weakening of implied contracts mean that work has become more transactional?
future of work
Renegotiating Work: Balancing Workplace Demands in Uncertain Times
Our 2026 Grand Challenge will investigate the changing nature of the mutual commitment that once anchored work. Discover the three key questions we’ll use to guide this year-long exploration.
Keynote: Expertise, Artificial Intelligence and the Work of the Future
In his Frontiers of Business keynote examining the use of artificial intelligence, MIT economist David Autor sees a future where AI extends the expertise of workers rather than replacing them.
Embracing Agency in the AI Revolution
Artificial intelligence was a major topic of conversation at the Frontiers of Business Conference on October 10. See how speakers and panelists think the technology will change the future of business.
Skills in the Workforce: Why They Matter for Economies
Our American Growth Project examination of skills in the workforce begins with a discussion of why skills are difficult to measure, then moves to a broad look at two ways to estimate the skill level across our Extended Metropolitan Areas.
Will Generative AI Disproportionately Affect the Jobs of Women?
Generative AI such as ChatGPT holds the potential to alter many kinds of work, but analysis of a new report shows the occupations most likely to be affected are populated by more women than men.
A New Model to Leverage the Impact of ChatGPT and AI
As generative AI tools embed themselves into everyday society, all of us are trying to understand their short- and long-term impact on organizations. The Technology Applications and Implications Model can help.
Meeting the Future Demand for Primary Care Services
How will sweeping changes in primary care services and providers affect the primary care workforce? We examine this question as well as how well the increasing demand for these services can be met in the future.
The Must-Have Skills in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: How AI’s Democratization Will Impact Workers
UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Professor Mark McNeilly discusses how ChatGPT and other AI tools will change the workplace - as well as how workers can best prepare themselves for these changes.
Workforce Disrupted: Seeking the Labor Market’s Next Equilibrium
COVID-19 sent shockwaves through the global economic system, disrupting financial markets, slowing productivity and exacerbating inequities. But its unprecedented impact on the labor market may serve as the pandemic’s most enduring economic effect.
How Labor Mobility Affects the Economy and Workers
Research from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Assistant Professor of Finance Abhinav Gupta demonstrates how a seemingly small change in the green-card application process holds tremendous significance for millions in the tech industry, made even more relevant by the sector’s current slowdown.
Designing Work for Attracting and Retaining Talent
If companies are going to provide equitable advancement opportunities for remote and hybrid workers, managers must be mindful and leaders must lead, say Jami Stewart of Cisco Systems Inc. and Jes Averhart of Jes & Co., speakers at a recent discussion hosted by the Kenan Institute-affiliated UNC Entrepreneurship Center and the Research Triangle Foundation. Also: A company’s commitment to social impact can be a key to adding and keeping talented young employees.
Should We Expect the U.S. Labor Force to Grow Dramatically?
Much has been made about the labor force participation rate, or the percentage of Americans over 16 who are working or actively looking for work — and for good cause, given the number of unfilled vacancies at U.S. firms. If fewer Americans are working, it is going to be harder for firms to staff all of their openings. Currently, 62.2% of adult Americans are working or looking for work. This compares with a historical average of 63.9% in 2019. With 259 million adult Americans, this 1.7 percentage point decrease in the labor force participation rate translates to a missing 4.4 million workers. And the narrative to date has primarily focused on how many Americans made changes following the COVID-19 pandemic (in response to lockdowns, layoffs, health concerns or care responsibilities) and the sizable fraction of these Americans who are still sitting on the sidelines. Given the steady drumbeat of news about how firms are unable to fill all their positions, there is much interest in how and when we expect these workers to return to the labor force. So, when can we expect them to join the labor pool?
Beyond Hybrid: The Next Frontier in Talent Management
Hybrid work scheduling is here to stay, and it points to a broader incentive that companies can offer as part of employee recruiting and retention, a panel of experts said Tuesday, April 26 as part of “Designing Work for Attracting & Retaining Talent,” a discussion and networking session hosted by the Kenan Institute-affiliated UNC Entrepreneurship Center and the Research Triangle Foundation.
Dean’s Speaker Series — Hope Bryant
On Tuesday, March 29th, First Citizens Bank Vice Chairwoman Hope Bryant joined UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Dean Doug Shackelford for a fireside chat. Bryant discussed the history of First Citizens Bank, the impacts of COVID-19 on the workforce and her experiences as a woman in a leadership position.
The Future of Hybrid Work: Overcoming Challenges, Capitalizing on Opportunities
Remote work seems likely to continue in a post-pandemic world, if employees have their say. In this week's insight, our experts highlight how businesses can rethink workspaces and better engage and involve employees in the office and those working from home.
Up to the Minute: Wage-Price Spiral
For much of 2022 economic forecasters, including those at the Federal Reserve, assumed that higher inflation rates would be short-lived – shifting back toward the Fed’s 2% target as supply-chain bottlenecks were resolved and a pandemic-induced shift in demand for consumer goods swung back toward consumer services. Instead, recent inflation prints have set 40-year records and we are seeing more discussion about the possibility of a “wage-price” spiral. In this short video, Kenan Institute Executive Director Greg Brown examines the factors which can lead to a wage-price spiral – and assesses the risk of a spiral causing even higher and more persistent inflation in the U.S. over the next few years.
May 24, 2026
Dean’s Speaker Series: Andrew Rose
Please join us for an exclusive conversation with Worthington Industries President and Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Rose on Wednesday, February 16. This discussion is part of the Dean’s Speaker Series, hosted by Kenan-Flagler Business School Dean Doug Shackelford.
Labor Shortage or Post-pandemic Growing Pains?
The current narrative around the U.S. labor market is a mixed bag, with unemployment numbers well above pre-pandemic rates while many companies struggle to fill jobs. In this Kenan Insight Q&A, three experts weigh in on the critical issues behind this dichotomy.
Fixing the Leaky Gender Equality Pipeline
Much has been written about the disproportionate number of women who have suffered pandemic-related job losses during COVID-19, but a related consequence has not been as well explored: the serious disruption of women’s careers, particularly in fields in which “path dependence” matters for success. In this Kenan Insight, we examine this more subtle asymmetry in the pandemic’s impact as indicative of far broader issues for women’s advancement in the workplace.
The Global-K Recovery
The 2020 COVID-fueled economic downturn generated what has been referred to as a K-shaped recession, with both big losers (such as restaurants and the hospitality sector) and big winners (such as high tech and online retail). In this Kenan Insight, we explore how a nascent K-shaped recovery will likely affect U.S. businesses and households.
AI and Organizational Strategy
Corporate executives have begun to glimpse the strategic value of incorporating artificial intelligence as an “employee” within their organization. In this Kenan Insight, we explore a framework that outlines the critical elements for harnessing the potential of human-AI working relationships.
Don’t Shut the (Office) Door Yet:
Why technology and work-from-home won’t displace the workplace
The widespread adoption of technological advances has made the move to working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic a success. In this Kenan Insight, we look at why the switch was such a win, its impact on worker productivity, and what it means in the long term for workers, office spaces and cities.
Robots, Remote Work and Regional Inequality
During the past 40 years, the income gap between top and bottom earners has expanded exponentially, with the top 1% controlling about 20% of national income and the bottom 50% holding less than 13%. In this Kenan Insight, we examine the role of two factors contributing to regional inequalities in the U.S and Europe: job automation and telecommuting.
Wrangling Herd Immunity for a Return to the Office
The arrival of two approved COVID-19 vaccines provides a clear path to the end of the pandemic that held most of 2020 hostage. But a recent resurgence of the virus and skyrocketing rates of infection indicate that a full return to normalcy—including the pre-pandemic work environment— is still months in the future. In this Kenan Insight, we examine the relevant factors that will determine when and how we go back to the office.
Could AI Be Your Next Employee of the Month?
Emerging artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities are ushering in significant changes in how enterprises operate – and raising a host of questions for organizations. In this Kenan Insight, we explore how changing the organizational mindset to treat AI as an “employee” may pave the way to fully reaping the benefits of AI systems.
Seven Forces Reshaping the Economy: Changes in Work, Travel and Migration Patterns
The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a significant shift in how and where we work, play and live. In this Kenan Insight, we explore which changes will be temporary and which are here to stay.
Where Are We Going? Lasting Changes to Working, Living and Traveling in a Post-COVID World
The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a significant shift in how and where we work, play and live. In this Kenan Insight, we explore which changes will be temporary and which are here to stay.
May 24, 2026
Press Briefing: Pre-election Report Identifies Seven Major Forces Reshaping the U.S. Economy
Join the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise and the North Carolina CEO Leadership Forum September 22 for the launch of a new report examining the state of our national economy – and exploring its future.
Business Incubators: If you build it, will entrepreneurs succeed?
Business incubators are taking on a greater role in the development of entrepreneurial ecosystems, but debate continues over whether, how and in what situations they work. In this Kenan Insight, we explore what makes incubators successful and how communities can determine if one is right for them.
Coronavirus Pandemic Refugees and the Future of American Cities
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Within two months, nearly half a million people fled hard-hit New York City. Will they return once the crisis has passed? In this Kenan Insight, we explore how the ongoing pandemic is raising questions about the future attractiveness of large cities as places to live and do business.
May 24, 2026
Press Briefing: Understanding Your Rights: Tips for Businesses and Workers Navigating the Economic Re-start
A panel of experts convened by UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and its affiliated Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise will be offering a press briefing via webinar on re-starting the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic. Join Tuesday, June 16, at 11 a.m. EDT.
May 24, 2026
Webinar: Mental Health Strategies Amidst COVID-19
Join NCGrowth-SmartUp on Wednesday, May 27, as we discuss mental health amidst COVID-19. Joined by a panel of experts, we’ll explore resources and strategies to help business owners and their essential workers manage stress and anxiety in this turbulent time.
May 24, 2026
Press Briefing: COVID-19: Are Workers Really All in This Together?
A panel of experts convened by UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and its affiliated Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise will be offering a press briefing via webinar on the vastly uneven impact of COVID-19 on different types of workers and organizations. Join tomorrow, Tuesday, May 5, at 11 a.m. EDT.
How Will COVID-19 Affect Commercial Real Estate?
Commercial real estate is a major asset class, with an estimated value of more than $12 trillion in the U.S. alone. But the stay-at-home orders and business closures precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic have the potential to negatively – and disastrously – affect commercial properties. What will the short- and long-term impacts be, which types of properties will be hardest hit and what policies can be put in place to help stem the tide of losses? UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Professor and Leonard W. Wood Center for Real Estate Studies Faculty Advisor Andra Ghent and her colleagues examine these issues in this week’s Kenan Insight.
Can Ed Tech Save Universities?
Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, institutions of higher education were under immense pressure to live up to their value propositions, with underlying tensions that have been developing for years posing an existential threat to their financial viability. As colleges and universities move classes and operations online in response to the pandemic, questions arise as to what such changes hold not just for now, but for the long-term success of higher education. Can ed tech provide a way forward? Find out in this week’s Kenan Insight.
May 24, 2026
UNC Webinar: Remote Offices, Virtual Teams and the Future of Work Through and Beyond COVID-19
Join RedHat’s Chief People Officer, DeLisa Alexander and UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Faculty members Dave Hofmann and Arv Malhotra as they explore how business leaders can motivate their teams and meet the changing needs of a remote workforce.
May 24, 2026
Press Briefing: Business and Economic Impact of COVID-19
A slate of experts from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and its affiliated Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise will be offering a press briefing via teleconference on the tremendous effects of COVID-19 on business, workers and the economy at large. Join tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17, at 11 a.m.